I am an O+ secretor. This question may seem a bit granular, but I don't want to sabatoge my good diet efforts by doing something unknowingly. My question is about foot cream. I just purchased a foot cream which is 60% aloe. It really is a great cream but, my understanding is, aloe is an avoid for O. In thinking about it, I started to be concerned if the aloe from the cream would be absorbed into my body enough to cause problems (in light of hormone and stop smoking dermal patches using the skin as a delivery system.) Any thoughts? P.S. Kudos for your column. It's the first thing I check every morning and has been so very helpful. ~ debra

Thanks for the compliment, debra!

Peter wrote an Ask Dr. D'Adamo answer on this subject. His view is that we needn't be concerned about using a topical product which contains avoids. For instance, aloe earned its O avoid label by its effects after ingestion -- the aloe-based cream you apply to your feet won't find its way into your digestive tract, and what little may pass the skin barrier shouldn't give you trouble.

I'm discussing this in general terms, but everyone has a different level of sensitivity to avoids in hair and skin products ~ so it's wise to stop using any product if it causes an adverse reaction in you.

Hi ^heidi^, Girly Question: Losing weight always seem to bring with it losing titties (breasts, teats, bra-sizes, whatever). Is it more a symptom of unhealthy weightloss (will the BTD help against this) or is it just plain losing fat means losing fat wherever we have it, and first and foremost our breasts? Love, Katrina

Hello, Kat!

Yes, I'm afraid that human breasts have such a high percentage of fat tissue (varies by individual, of course) that gaining muscle and losing fat will naturally affect the size and appearance of the breasts.

{What's that weeping sound? :->}

The good thing about it is that your whole body is getting smaller. So, everything will remain in proportion. Hey, that's what counts! A slow and steady approach to fat loss gives the elastic tissues a chance to shrink in pace with the volume change, so you don't have to deal with a bunch of suddenly empty skin hanging around. The key here is to maintain vibrant connective tissue. Appropriate exercise and diet (including "good fats") really do accomplish that job.

Years ago, when I had lost about 65 pounds after switching from a classic vegetarian (yeah, starchitarian) diet to one based on fruit and vegetable juices, I noticed that the subcutaneous fat on my stomach had gathered into pouchy little patterns resembling crushed Wonder Bread. My connective tissue was kaput (small wonder! no protein, of course. Surprise! Little did I know...) A few months after I started the type O plan, I got my first welcome side-effect: my stomach area looked different. Yes, I had developed some muscle under the skin, but it was the skin itself that had changed: it was smooth again. No weird little bunches, crepe-iness, folds or wrinkles. It had regained its proper thickness and elasticity.

Breasts change with the menstrual cycle as well, but that skin and its underlying connective structure will respond to favorable treatment just as the rest of the body's does.

Now, mind if I share? :-> In my constant nosing around, it's come to my attention that there is a type A (and maybe "skin advantage." You people seem to have more smoothly-pigmented skin... thicker skin? and a little something extra in the elasticity department, compared to Os. Whether this is due to your higher blood viscosity, less robust circulation, more clotting factors than Os, or God just loves you more, I don't know ~ but I've noticed it. I grew up with 14 aunts and uncles, numerous cousins, and three siblings on display ~ we're ALL O, and I can clearly recall the delicate-looking light skin everyone was "blessed with," with visible veins and slow-healing scars. OK, some of this was undoubtedly dietary, but I wonder if it's a blood type thing?? More research is necessary! :-) We're not a wrinkly folk, but we can turn a large room pink with one blush. Never found a type A who did that. (Oh, I'm going to get a lot of mail on this one.)

This is all a long way of saying: do the plan, lose the weight, and count your polymorphic blessings!! ;-)

Niggling thoughts about attractiveness? Truly delightful (and meticulously researched) girly stuff, here. Just scroll down to "Breasts and the Human Figure." Or start from the top and work your way down. :-D

I am curious about protein powders, and haven't found them mentioned in the books. I know whey protein is probably not OK for Type O's, but what about spirulina? Are there any you are familiar with that work with the Diet? Thanks... Barb

Thank you for bringing it up, Barb!

Personally, I get plenty of protein from meat, fowl, fish and nuts. Each of the blood type diets is designed to provide optimal protein by source and quantity, and I tend to emphasize that aspect of the plans to those who like the "whole foods" approach. However, I understand that a "shake" or smoothie formulation is useful for people with special needs.

For our purposes, my best recommendation is to try to find organic rice protein or egg protein powder. That is, if you're unwilling to drop a couple of hard-boiled eggs, some ground seeds and a hunk of nutbutter into the blender with your soy milk or fruit or vegetable broth. One message board participant discovered that a little cubed steak whizzes up nicely. We all find our own path. :->

I get letters every week from body-builders and folks living in the fast lane who insist whey or soy isolate powders are the cat's meow, have turned them into dynamos, and I'm an idiot. I also hear detailed claims from die-hard fans of edible algae that they've been healed and sent to Heaven by blue-green algae, spirulina, a certain company's algae product but not others, and so on. My answer to these inquiries is, in short: I hate to disturb happiness, and I sure won't argue with success!

I'm not in the business of wresting your favorite protein drink from your trembling hands. If I want to do anything, it is to impel, not compel -- to encourage you to do your research on the product of your choice, see if the ones available to you locally or on the Net can offer a better BTD-compliance, be sensitive to your own body's reaction to whatever you choose, and go in peace.